Discussion:
The city currently uses the State of Minnesota inspection fee schedule for electrical permits. The proposed fee changes will place the city at the mid-point of similar cities. Some smaller permits will now be less expensive while large commercial projects may be more since there will now be a required plan review.
The comparison is not exactly the same since currently there are additional fees for primary connections, panels etc. We are moving to a one complete fee rather than a checklist of fees.
The city will be using its own staffed electrical inspector position.
Currently, many failed permits do not get reviewed again. The new fee schedule sets up a re-inspection fee.
The proposed changes also modify the commercial escrows for erosion control. The current escrow is too small for commercial projects that can consist of acres and there is often no incentive to maintain stormwater control. The city has had issues in the past with regulators on how this is inspected and now has a robust inspection program but the escrow does not match the required need for commercial projects.